Tony and Gibbs sat in the basement next to the half finished boat and talked till the sun started to peek over the horizon.
When Gibbs noticed the sun coming up and how heavy Tony's eyes were getting he told the younger man, "You will never know how much it meant for you to share with me like you did. Thank you for letting me guard your six. I promise I wont ever betray that trust."
Tony smiled through exhausted eyes, "No Boss, I should be thanking you. I ran out of the office like a little baby and I am sorry."
Gibbs just shook his head in disbelief at the younger mans words. He thought to himself, "How am I ever going to get this kid to realize he is as amazing as he is?" But he actually said, "Don't worry kiddo, you go up to your room and get some sleep. I need to go into the office but you wont need to come in till tomorrow okay? You get some sleep and when I get home we will have one of the cowboy steaks like you like."
Tony smiled at his boss, "Sounds great boss." He got up to head up the stairs and turned back to Gibbs and with a genuine heart felt smile he said, "Oh and Gibbs, thanks for being my Dad tonight and not my Boss." With that said he made it up the stairs and into his room to sleep.
Gibbs stayed in the basement for a few more minutes by him self and all he could do was look in the general direction that Tony went and he whispered, "Sweet and peaceful dreams my boy, you deserve them."
Two hours later Gibbs was making his way into the bull pin with his fourth cup of very strong black coffee. He thought to himself, "I am getting way to damn old to be staying up all night" as he slid behind his desk. McGee and Ziva were only a few minutes behind Gibbs getting to work. They came in cautiously when they saw Gibbs sitting at his desk but Tony not at his.
McGee shot worried looks over at Ziva and Ziva shrugged her shoulders at McGee. They both sat down but neither could keep their eyes off of Tony's empty desk. Ziva was about to say something to Gibbs when she heard Abby round the corner.
Abby stood in front of Gibbs desk and asked, "Where is Tony and why isn't he here today mister? I thought you were going to go and get him back last night."
Gibbs looked up at the angry Goth in front of his desk with her hands on her hips trying to look imposing but just managing to look adorable. He smiled at her, "I found him. I know where he is. We talked."
Ziva and McGee got up to stand behind Abby, they all wanted to hear about Tony. McGee stuttered, "D-did y-you tell him I was sorry?" Ziva asked, "Did you tell him we miss him?"
Gibbs looked at his desk for a moment and thought hard abut his words, "You will have to tell him those things yourself. I did talk to him and he knew that McGee blew up at him because he was exhausted, but the words you said, weather you were tired or not still sting on every person but on someone like Tony whose growing up wasn't as ideal as you might think they sting worse. Those words brought back horrible memories for him and he had too battle some old demons to be able to even consider coming back to us."
McGee paled at the words Gibbs spoke and Ziva looked a cross between worried and wanting to take out anyone who hurt Tony. Ziva was the first to ask, "What happened to Tony in his childhood and who did bad things to him?"
Gibbs shook his head no, "I know, but he told me in confidence and I will not betray that confidence. He is asleep at my house in the room he has there."
McGee looked strange at Gibbs, "He has a room at your house?"
Gibbs got a bit frustrated, "YES McGee he does have a room at my house. We have been partners for a lot of years and he is a dear friend. You have a problem with that? You know my door is always unlocked for anyone."
McGee feeling really bad said, "I know Boss I am sorry. I know he has been with you way before either of us and I know he gets hurt a lot and needs looking after."
Gibbs trying to squelch his growing annoyance, "Listen, we are getting off topic here. Tony is out today because he needs a day off to put himself back together but I am here because I need to tell you three something."
The three stood closer together bracing themselves for what was to come. Gibbs began, "McGee first off about what you said last night to Tony, you have never talked out of your ass so much in your life. Tony has been offered two team leads in the past year and he has turned them down because he wants to stay with his family. He is extremely capable of leading and you need to know that. As far as the rest of you go when I took a break and wet to Mexico I left Tony in charge not because there was no one else but because he was capable and the right man for the job. I have you know when I came back he actually raised our closed rate by 2 points. McGee I will have you know that your stint as SFA was akin to riding a tricycle Tony did over half of your work for you because he saw you were getting overwhelmed. You all don't see the extent of work Tony does. I would not have near the successful team as I do if it wasn't for that man. When he returns tomorrow he will probably stroll in here like nothing ever happened and if that is the way he wants to play it then fine but you guys need to remember if you all ever show Tony the disrespect that you did when I was in Mexico I will personally fire each of you do you understand me?"
The three of them looked at each other in shock but answered, "Yes Sir". Gibbs smiled a half smile and then told each of them to get back to work.
When the clock hit five he told the crew to go home and he gathered his belongings and went home himself. The caffeine buzz he was leaning on to make through the day was starting to wear off.
He got home and found Tony with wet hair lying on the sofa fast asleep with Halloween 5 blaring on the TV. He stopped and watched the movie for a second but raised his lip in disgust at the gore. He turned it off then laughed at himself that maybe Tony had done this job long enough if he could sleep peacefully through that gore.
He sat down in the armchair next to the sofa and decided he was going to close his eyes for just a moment. He and Tony woke up 4 hours later when there was a knock on the door. Tony waved at Gibbs to sit and he ran to get the door. When he opened the door Ziva, Abby and McGee were standing on the front porch.
He looked at them strange and asked, "What are you all doing here?"
Ziva asked, "Can we come in?"
Tony snapping out of his shock said, "Um yeah come on in I am sorry."
Gibbs noticed the crowed coming in and asked what Tony had asked, "What in the world are you all doing here?"
Well you said your door was always unlocked for us so we decided to take you up on your offer. Gibbs looked shyly, "I am sorry I should have said it was unlocked unless I am not alone in the house then I lock it but you all are always welcome."
They all sat on the couch and on the coffee table and McGee began, "I know you want to brush past what happened but I cant, I was wrong. I was tired and needed someone to lash out at and you were the perfect person to lash out at and I am sorry."
Abby chimed in after McGee, "We are sorry too Tony. We have been taking Gibbs leaving out on you and you don't deserve that. I hope you know that even if we can be butt heads we all love you bunches."
Tony smiled and looked at the ground for a moment collecting his thoughts. "Thank you guys so much. I really appreciate your words but I have made my decision I am leaving for the FBI tomorrow."
The three of them gasped at the same time and Gibbs just laughed and hit Tony on the back of the head, "He is full of it he isn't going anywhere he is just trying to yank your chains."
When they heard that they looked to Tony for conformation and they were greeted with one of Tony's 1000-watt smiles. Ziva punched him and said, "Don't ever do that to me again or I will slowly kill you."
Tony was full on laughing by this point, "You think I would leave Gibbs for Fornell? Paleeezz. No you all are stuck with me for a while."
Gibbs came behind him and grabbed him on the shoulders and said, "We wouldn't have it any other way"
The end and thank you for taking the time to read this story.